Separator.



A. R. ROGERS.

SEPABATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1909.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Witt wows ARTHUR/i. ROGEfiS A. R. ROGERS.

SEPABATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.15, 1909.

Patented Mar.29, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AR'J.IIUR R. ROGERS, 0F JONESPORT MAINE.

SEPARATOR.

Application filed September 15, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.. Serial No. 517,901.

considerablequantities and processed in the aggregate, as has heretofore been the custom, some are cooked to the minimum, and others to the maximum degree, owing to the variations inthesize of the fish. Apparatuses have been devised to overcome this discrepancy but they have been found to be more or less im ractical for the fish are subjected to excessive treatment, frequently being skinned, and sometimes being lacerated to such an extent as to be rendered entirely worthless as an article of food.

It is, therefore, the object of mv invention to provide a separator which will overcome these, and other, inherent disadvantages.

To the accomplishment of the recited object, and others coordinate therewith, the preferred embodiment of my invention re sides in that construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a side ele- -vation of the apparatus embodying my in- *vention. Fig. 2 is a to plan View of the separator proper, and, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines 33 of Fig. '2.

Similar reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout the several vlews.

Referring more particularly to the drawings for a detail description of my inven-' tion, the numeral 1 designates a substantially rectan ular frame comprising longitudinal or side members 2, end cross beams 3, and intermediate cross beams 4. This frame'is dis osed at an inclination with re spect to a b1n 5, with which it is connected at its upper proximal end by the uprights (3, the lower end of the frame resting against the upper edge of the corresponding end of 'jacent rollers.

the bin. In the direction of the length of the frame I arrange in parallelism a plurality of rollers 7, the diameters of which progressively increase from the. bottom to the top in such manner as-to leave intervening spaces 8, 9, 10, and 11, which vary inversely to the diameter of the rollers. The

upper terminals of the rollers are provided with beveled gear wheels 12, the connection being secured in each instance by an integral shank 13, which extend through the upper end cross beam 3. Arranged transversely of the upper extremities of the side members 2 is a shaft 14 having mounted thereon gear wheels15, which mesh with the said gear wheels 12. A fly wheel 16 is also carried by the shaft 14, and this may be obviously connected with any suitable source of power to impart a rotatory movement to the rollers 7 I, preferably, construct the rollers 7 in sections, which are connected by the concentric pins 17 the opposed adjacent end portions of the sections being spaced sufficiently to permit the interposition of the vertical bearings 18 secured to the intermediate and lower end cross beams 3 and 2. To prevent occlusion of the openings between the rollers each series of bearings have less transverse extent than the diameter of the smaller ad This novel manner of supporting the rollers at intervals along their lon itudinal extent precludes any likelihood of ateral displacement, and also provides for the facile detachment of any one or more of the sections .in case it should be found d'esirable to substitute new sections.

At opposite ends of the side members 2 short uprights 19 are fastened for the purpose of supporting the guard rails 20, which manifestly prevent the fish from falling over the-edges of the rollers; Beneath the frame 1 compartments, as 21, are formed by the vertical partitions 22 to receive the different assortments of fish.

In conjunction with the hereinbefore described separator, I utilize a feed-tank 23 and an endless belt conveyer 24, the latter being designed to deliver the fish to the chute 25; I ropose to construct the belt conveyer of a wldth equal to that of the separator in order that the fish may be fed evenly to the separator, and to insure the full working ca acity of the latter.

:1 practical operation, the fish are fed to and deposited on the rollers 7, which are rotatcd in the mamier heretofore explained. Owing to the declivity of the rollers the fish will pass downwardly, and in their course will be agitated sufiiciently to segregate them according to size and cause them to pass through the appropriate spaces between the rollers, when they are precipitated into their respective compartments and then transp'orted to their proper destination. If any of the fish are too large to be admitted between the rollers, they will eventually find their way over the lower end of the rollers, and then into any suitable receptacle which might be provided for that contingency.

The principle of my invention is applicable to farm products, as apples, potatoes, onions, etc., or any other material which is required to be culled or assorted.

It should be understood that in its broader aspects my invention comprehends the employment not only of the means described,

but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions.

While the arrangement shown is thought at the present time, to be preferable, it is desired to reserve the right to eifect suchmodifications and variations thereof as may come fairly within the'scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed, is v 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a chute comprising a frame having cross beams, a plurality of sectional rotatable rollers progressively increasing in diameter from the bottom to the top, the ends of the sections of each roller being arranged in close proximity to each other, concentrically arranged pins for securing the opposed ends of the sections together, whereby each roller will be substantially continuous from end to end, and bearing plates carried by the intermediate cross beams and one end beam, and interposed between the opposed ends of said sections.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a chute comprising a frame having cross beams, a plurality of sectional rotatable rollers progressively in creasing in diameter from the bottom to the top, the ends of the sections, of each roller being arranged in close proximity to each other, concentrically arran ed pins for securing the opposed ends of the sections together, whereby each roller will be substantially continuous from end to end, and bearing plates carried by the intermediate cross beams and one end beam, and interposed between the opposed ends of said sections, said bearing plates being of less width than the diameter of the smaller adjacent rollers.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature inpresence 0 two witnesses.

ARTHUR R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

O. H. DUNBAR, Enw. B. SAwrnR. 

